The Head of Disease Surveillance at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Mrs Elsie Ilori, has said the causative vector for Lassa fever, Mastomys Natalensis, is prevalent in Edo and Ondo States.
Ilori, in an interview with our correspondent, said 70 per cent of cases Lassa fever in Nigeria were recorded during the dry season.
“Lassa fever is endemic in Nigeria as cases are recorded all year round. There is usually an increase in cases between November and March during the dry season due to ecological factors. The Lassa fever virus is transmitted by rodents which can be found in our environment. This contributes largely to the risk of spread of the virus in Nigeria and other African countries with similar ecological factors. Though about 70 per cent of cases in Nigeria are recorded during the dry season, low levels of transmission are sustained across the hotspot states notably Edo, Ondo and Ebonyi.
“Edo and Ondo are two contiguous historical Lassa fever hotspot states accounting for the highest number of cases in Nigeria. Studies have shown that the causative vector for Lassa fever, Mastomys Natalensis, is prevalent in both states, particularly in areas with poor environmental sanitation.
“Activities such as bush burning, drying or exposure of foods, to rodents are other factors that can increase the burden of the disease in a particular area. We can only rely on personal and collective responsibilities to protect ourselves against Lassa fever and other infectious diseases in Nigeria,” Ilori said.
According to the NCDC’s week 33 situation report released on August 15, no fewer than 5,527 suspected cases of Lassa fever has been recorded in 2020, while 1,061 confirmed cases and 222 deaths have also been recorded.
The NCDC noted that 73 per cent of confirmed Lassa fever cases were from Edo, Ondo and Ebonyi.
It said, “Of all confirmed cases, 34 per cent are from Ondo, 32 per cent from Edo, and seven per cent from Ebonyi States.